Top Things to Do in Northern California

With its inspiring blend of brilliant weather, abundant local produce, diverse history and culture, and celebrated natural beauty, Northern California has something to offer every traveler. Visitors to the region can choose their own adventure along the coast or down its rugged spine, celebrating natural history, modern culture, food, festivities, and everything in between.

Here’s our pick of top things to do in Northern California. 

Experience San Francisco

This iconic, eclectic city marks the ideal starting point for any Northern California trip.

San Francisco is chock-full of things to do, from eating breakfast sandwiches on the beach to hiking from the Golden Gate Bridge, from vintage shopping in The Haight district to taking dumpling tours through Chinatown.

Spend a few days cramming in culture before driving deeper into Northern California. Having your own transport is a must; when you set off from the Bay Area, start by leaving your extra travel bags at a San Francisco luggage storage facility. Simplify your road trip and keep your belongings safe during your next adventure: Yosemite National Park.

Explore Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is, quite simply, spectacular. With its towering trees and granite walls, expansive fields and forests, outdoor enthusiasts won’t be short of things to do. Visitors to Yosemite can hike, camp, whitewater raft, zipline, rock climb, mountain bike, and more. Just remember parts of the park are only open seasonally and require permits.

For travelers craving more national parks and great driving roads, ride the breathtaking Highway 395 to other incredible locations like Death Valley and Sequoia National Forest. Foodies and urbanites, however, should continue north to Sacramento.

Dine in Sacramento

Sacramento is heaven for foodies, as it’s known as America’s farm-to-fork capital. The region is home to one of California’s oldest wine-producing areas, as well as gastronomic delights to suit any budget and palate. Furthermore, the city is lined with over 600 murals, plus vintage shops, historic buildings, bike paths, and breweries.

For a fun, extra activity that’s an easy drive out of Sacramento, head for Apple Hill next.

Enjoy Apple Picking

What better way to appreciate California’s world-renowned produce than by harvesting some of it yourself? Apple Hill is a fun attraction for couples, families, and food lovers.

Visitors can pick their own apples straight from the tree, as well as a wide variety of pears, stone fruit, and more. Graze an array of apple-themed treats, like apple milkshakes at High Hill or apple cider doughnuts from Rainbow Orchards. Kids can play in pumpkin patches or with farm animals, while grown-ups can sign up for cooking classes or explore wineries on site.

Sip in Napa and Sonoma Valleys

These two towns and regions differ in what they can offer tourists and wine aficionados, including grape varieties and value for money.

Napa Valley has been described as the “Vegas of wine country”. It’s world-famous (read: crowded) and more expensive, and visitors to the region tend to be high-rollers who cruise between vineyards in rented limousines, hot air balloons, or via the elegant Napa Valley wine train. Guests can even play winemaker for a day, tasting and blending their own concoctions from the many grape varieties in Napa Valley.

Choose Napa if you want to spend your time in total luxury, tasting cabernet sauvignons, chardonnays, and merlots.

Sonoma Valley is lesser known and commercialized, yet nearly double the size of Napa and presenting more grape varieties. There aren’t as many flashy activities on offer, but the plus side is less traffic and lower cost, and a more laid-back atmosphere. Visitors can feel as though they have the whole valley to themselves. Rent a bike in Sonoma town and pedal between a selection of wineries, or drive if you’re willing to split or choose a designated driver.

Choose Sonoma if you’re chasing peace and quiet, and more reasonably priced zinfandels, sparkling wines, red blends, and zesty, unoaked chardonnays.

Hike Lake Tahoe

Intersecting with the great Pacific Coast Trail, Lake Tahoe is a naturalist’s dream. This lake is surrounded by a bounty of flora and fauna, including glacier-carved granite cliffs, snowmelt waterfalls, and wildflowers. Not to mention the epic selection of hikes, from casual strolls around Emerald Bay to 10,000ft (3000m) peaks.

Serious hikers can traverse the 165-mile (266km) Tahoe Rim Trail, with certain stretches following original routes used by Washoe Indians, Basque shepherds, and early pioneers. The trail crosses six counties and two states, so is no easy feat...though certainly a bragging right. Those with less time or energy can catch gondolas to some of the higher routes.

Experience Gold Country

A large piece of California’s history and future innovations converge in Gold Country.

The 1848 discovery of glittering flecks in the Sierra foothills sparked a mass migration of over 300,000 prospectively-rich pioneers. See their legacy preserved in the tiny town of Coloma with its old general store and post office, and Marshall Gold Discovery State Park. Winding back roads in the region spill over with newer treasures, including farm-to-fork eateries, wineries, antique shops, and B&Bs.

Savor Mendocino

Concluding your winding journey north is the idyllic hamlet of Mendocino. Picture yourself in a setting of whitewashed cottages and water towers, with artists painting against a backdrop of rugged cliffs, and a slew of farmers and winemakers preserving the land and producing a specialty culinary scene.

Stroll the streets of charming galleries and shops, before visiting the neighboring towns of Trinidad and Eureka. Tourists passing through between December and May can join locals in welcoming around 20,000 grey whales on their annual migration. Finally, Mendocino is a gateway to California’s majestic Redwood National and State Parks, where the world’s tallest redwood trees will take your breath away.

Want to Make More Money?

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Need to improve your financial situation? Most people in your shoes would look to trim their expenses and make savings where possible, but there is another way — making more money.

Trimming your expenses can only do so much, and it can take some of the joy out of life depending on how healthy your finances are to start with, which is why, if you need to improve your financial situation for any reason, you should definitely look at the following ways to make more money:

10 Things Every Entrepreneur Must Know

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Are you a budding business owner? Do you see entrepreneurship in your future? Here are a few things you should probably know before you take your first tentative steps into the business world…

You have to work really hard

There are no two ways about it: if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you’re going to have to work really hard, I mean like Steve Jobs levels of hard for a lot of years. If you can’t handle working long hours and pouring your hearty and soul into your business, then it probably isn’t for you but remember: once you’ve built up a successful business you will reap the benefits and you will be able to take it a lot easier. So, what you have to ask yourself is whether a few years of hard work now is worth it for a successful business and the lifestyle that comes with that later. If you’re serious about being an entrepreneur, the answer is probably YES! 

The bank isn’t your only option

One of the hardest things for entrepreneurs is finding the capital they require to get into business and keep their companies afloat. Right now, the banks ate a lot more cautious about who they will lend money to and that means more loan applications are being confused. That doesn’t have to be a problem! Right now, there are more sources of business income, including Angles Investors and crowdfunding websites, than there has ever been before. So, don’t get disheartened if you can’t find secure a bank loan and explore every option available to you.

Having a decent education helps

Okay, so there are a few success stories of entrepreneurs who had little to know education but overcame the odds to become multi-millionaires, even billionaires, but the fact still remains that having a solid education gives you a leg up when it comes to being a successful businessman or woman. Particularly useful are MBAs in business, innovation and entrepreneurship, like the ones at Northeastern University, because they teach you to think, act and evolve like an entrepreneur. So, maybe your first business investment should be an investment in your own education.

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Delegation is a must

Where a lot of entrepreneurs go wrong is in thinking that they must do everything for themselves, not only because it is cheaper but because they want to have complete control over their businesses. This is a sure-fire way to burnout. As I mentioned earlier, you do have to work very hard if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, but you really don’t have to, and you really shouldn’t try to do everything at all times.

What you should do is work out where your strengths and weaknesses lie and focus on doing the tasks yourself that you have the skills to do well. Everything else you should aim to outsource, if not at the very beginning, as soon as you have the capital to do so. Not only will this help you to stay healthy and stay in the game, but it will also enable you to hire the best people with the best skills to make your business the best it can be and that is how you will succeed.

Great entrepreneurs solve problems

For the most part, the most successful entrepreneurs haven’t come up with revolutionary new products or mindblowing ideas. They have simply identified a problem that needs to be solved and created a solution to do just that. It doesn’t matter how interesting your ideas are or how innovative your products are if they don’t solve a very real problem or meet a common need, you are unlikely to sell as much as you could, and chances are you won’t still be in business a decade from now.

Slow and steady wins the race

A lot of budding entrepreneurs things that going full steam ahead is the best way to reach their goals and make their business dreams a reality, when in fact, it is often the opposite that is true.

The most successful entrepreneurs are confident but cautious. They take small steps to build their businesses up gradually; they implement a stage of their plan, wait to see how it goes and only when they see success do they move on to the next stage. This helps them to stay grounded, stay in control and avoid losing all of their money when things don’t exactly play out as expected. Be like them and have big plans by all means, but implement them gradually and only when you’re sure the time is right to do so.

Expect setbacks

If you start a business thinking that everything will always go your way. If you think that you’ll launch, everyone will immediately love your product and start buying it in their droves so that you never have to worry about paying the bills or keeping your employees on, then you are setting yourself up for a fall. 

Sure, if you’ve planned well, chances are you won’t have to worry excessively, but you can bet that you will have setback along the way and things won’t always go the way you planned. The trick is to plan for the unplanned and expect those setbacks to come along then when they do happen — and they will— you will be able to deal with them calmly, professionally and in such a way that your business won’t suffer dramatically. 

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Learn from your mistakes

We all make mistakes and that is okay, but instead of just moving on from your mistakes, if you’re serious about being a successful entrepreneur, you should also learn from them. Mistakes aren’t failures — they can teach you so much about yourself, your company and your customers if you take the time to sit down, analyze them and work out WHY things went wrong. That way, you can learn from them, do better next time and improve your entrepreneurship skills as well as your business.

Know when to quit

Sometimes that great idea you had just isn’t going to work. There isn’t any sizeable market for it; the product would be more expensive to make than anyone would ever pay for it and you just don’t have the skills to make it all happen. Instead of holding on to that idea anyway, you need to be brave and give it up. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed as an entrepreneur; it means that you’re a sensible, pragmatic person who knows that being successful is about finding the right idea at the right time and working hard to make THAT a reality. Go back to the drawing board and find that great idea because you know there is one, and by quitting now, you’ll still have the money and motivation to keep going come what may.

Just get started 

No one ever started a successful multi-million dollar business by sitting around dreaming and you won’t either. If you want to be an entrepreneur, sooner or later, you have to take the plunge and just start doing. Yes, it’s scary and a real business might not end up being as good as the one you’re dreaming about, you’ll never know until you try. So, start drawing up that business plan or building that product prototype and don’t look back — it’s the only way to do what you want to do.

Being an entrepreneur can be tough, but it is also one of the most rewarding things you can do, and as long as you know what you’re letting yourself in for, and you’re willing to work hard, there is no reason why you can’t succeed.

Keeping An Eye On Eye Health As We Age

Like just about the rest of us, our eyes can start to get a little funky as we get older, and can begin playing up on us in new and not-so-exciting ways. Your eyes are the keys to one of the most important senses of all and, as such, it’s important to be aware of what can affect them and how you can protect them.

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Mind your screens

One of the dangers that are relatively unique to modern life is our exposure to blue light. This type of light is predominantly produced by digital screens, including your PC or laptop monitor and your smartphone. This blue light leads to digital eye strain, which can lead to discomfort, dehydration, and even endanger your vision.

A healthy body leads to healthy eyes

By taking care of our bodies, we’re taking better care of our eyes. People who are less active, for instance, are more likely to experience vision loss as they age, so finding time to exercise is crucial. So, too, is ensuring that you eat foods that can reduce the chances of developing macular degeneration, like dark leafy greens, carrots, wild salmon, and turkey. You need to give your body the nutrients it needs to fuel the eyes.

Irritation and dryness are a serious risk, too

Dryness and irritation of the eyes can be caused by all kinds of issues. Getting dust and dirt particles in the eyes can lead to irritation. Blue light, as mentioned, can lead your eyes to dry out. It might present as just irritation alone, but you might also get more than normal eye discharge. This might not mean you’re at risk of losing your sight, but it can definitely get in the way of your ability to function normally, but it can be treated with eye drops.

Take care after injury

If you have had an eye injury due to trauma or due to getting something stuck in your eye, then it can lead to genuinely dangerous conditions. An untreated eye infection can lead to a corneal ulcer, which causes pain, swelling, and other painful symptoms, and can also lead to total vision loss if not treated. If your eye is painful, red, swollen, or produces thick discharge, make sure you see a doctor immediately.

Organize that vision test

If you want to make sure that you’re taking care of your eyes and protecting your vision, then you need to know how good your vision is in the first place. Schedule an appointment with your optometrist to get the low-down on your eye-health. They will help you layout a schedule of when to get your eyes tested and help you address any changes in vision loss. Early detection is essential, as treating changes in your vision early can stop it from changing further.

We need to protect our eyes as we age. Not only can we help ensure the health of our sight as time goes on, but we can live a much more comfortable life if we’re not always dealing with dry, irritated eyes, too.

Getting Out Of Debt Without Declaring Bankruptcy: 3 Essential Actions

Are you drowning in debt? If so, bankruptcy may seem like the life raft that you so desperately need. However, there are significant disadvantages to declaring bankruptcy, including the fact that it can leave a nasty stain on your credit score for years. Bankruptcy can even impact your employability, and so your the opportunity to earn and stay out of debt in the future. Fortunately, there are some strategies for getting out of debt that do not require taking such a drastic step. Read on to find out what they are. 

Reduce your outgoings 

If you are to get in control of your debt, the first thing you need to do is to reduce your outgoings. The reason for this is if you have less to pay out for, more of your money can be spent on clearing your debts. 

In fact, there are two things you can do that will help you here. First of all, set a limit for all the essentials you need to spend money on during the month. Such as groceries, utilities, travel, and the like. In fact, you will often find that by doing this, you will start to think more carefully about what you are purchasing and therefore spend less.

Secondly, it's also vital that you don't allow yourself to get into any more debt during this time. Otherwise, you will be just making things much more difficult for yourself. With that in mind, do not take out any credit or loans or invest in any large purchases unless absolutely necessary. 

Debt relief

Of course, even with more money coming in and less going out, clearing your debts completely can be tricky. Especially if things have gotten really out of control. The good news is that there are options available apart from declaring bankruptcy. 

One of these is to choose to consolidate your loans. This involves working with a provider that will buy up all of your debts. They will then put them all together into a single sum. The advantage of this is that they can offer a more favourable rate, and it's much easier to keep track of your debts. Something that means you won't end up incurring fines and fees for late or missed payments. 

The other debt relief option to consider is an attorney negotiated debt settlement. This is when an attorney negotiates a significant reduction in your debts without bankruptcy. In fact, this can be a beneficial option for many people. This is because it allows them to get their debts into a manageable position without increasing all the disadvantages of full bankruptcy.

Increase your income 

Another smart move is to increase the money coming into your household. In fact, the more you have coming in, the faster you can use it to pay off your debt. 

Fortunately, there are many ways that you can generate extra income and so avoid bankruptcy. From starting a side hustle to taking on additional overtime. Many people even choose to lease out spare rooms in their homes or other properties they own for this purpose. Something that can help them to raise the additional funds they need without going into bankruptcy.